Combination play yard, sandbox, and wading pool



Sept; 5. 1967 A. D. SPENCER 3,339,213

I COMBINATIION- PLAY YARD, SANDBOX, AND WADING POOL Filed Sept. 14, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet l Z WNW.

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fizz 707a D. Spender" pt- 7 v I A. o. SPENCER ,339,213 4 COMBINATION PLAY YARD, SANDBOX, AND WADING PooL Filed Sept. 14, 1964 3 Shets-Sheet 2 Sept. 5, 1967 A. D. SPENCER 3,339,213

SANDBOX, AND WADING POOL COMBINATION PLAY YARD, Filed Sept. 14, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ll I by United States Patent 3,339,213 COMBINATION PLAY YARD, SANDBOX, AND WADING POOL Aaron D. Spencer, Baby Products Corp., 143 Shaker Road, East Lougmeadow, Mass. 01028 Filed Sept. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 396,123 9 Claims. (Cl. 4-177) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present application discloses an article of manufacture for the use of infants, comprising a substantially continuous foldable side wall forming an enclosure having a generally open top and bottom, a box-like member including a floor and upstanding walls with an open top, and means for detachably securing the foldable side wall adjacent its bottom to the walls of the box-like member at the tops thereof so that said side Wall forms an extension thereof when the side wall is extended, means to hold the side wall extended, said enclosure being disposable in extended condition on a surface by itself without the box-like member for use as a play yard Without a'bottom, said folding side wall including a bottom frame and said box-like member including peripheral flange means extending outwardly from the upper portion thereof, said bottom frame and said peripheral flange means being provided with complementary convex and concave surfaces to facilitate ready mounting and dismounting of the side wall with reference to said box-like member.

with straps attached, can be secured to a bed and used aS a crib.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view with parts broken away illustrating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view'in front elevation of the foldable play yard wall showing the same folded;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of one of the catches for the folding mechanism;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

the canopy support;

This invention relates to a new and improved article for use by infants and is of the general nature of a play yard which is adapted to be removably attached with respect to the walls of a sandbox or wading pool, so that the mother may utilize the device as a playpen, sandbox, or wading pool which are to be mounted or dismounted as may be desired. At the same time the play yard walls may be utilized by themselves as for instance on a beach so that the child may be restrained in the play yard but play in the sand; and the playpen walls can be used per so as a crib, with means to secure it to a bed.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a new and improved canopy construction which is adapted to be utilized with the sandbox or wading pool and without the play yard walls, or selectively with the play yard walls whether mounted on the sandbox and wading pool or whether used alone as described above.

Furthermore of course it is clear that the sandbox or wading pool which has a floor and upstanding side walls can be used as the floor in the manner of a conventional play yard without sand or water contained therein, in which case the upright side Walls provide a draft shield so that the infant lying on the floor is not subject to drafts.

It will therefore be seen that this invention presents in a relatively simple manner a very useful article for infants which is capable of use in at least four separate and distinct ways merely through the use of a sandbox or wading pool which may be conveniently made of plastic or the like so that it is watertight and which is adapted to removably receive upstanding side walls of a play yard, which walls may be folded in any manner which may be desired or convenient for transportation and storage, and in the invention herein this folding action may take place with the sandbox or wading pool still in attached position with relation to the side walls of the play yard by a special new and improved folding frame for that purpose, or the play yard walls may be detached and folded separately. Also, the play yard walls can be removed, and

FIG. 9 is a view in elevation looking in the direction of arrow 9 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view in elevation showing the box-like member removed and the canopy in position;

FIG. 11 illustrates the playpen walls used as a crib, and

FIG. 12 is a detail thereof.

In illustrating the invention, it will be seen that the same includes a box-like member generally indicated at 10. This box-like member may be made of any material such as for instance molded plastic and it has an impervious bottom 12 with continuous impervious side walls 14 extending thereabout, being open at the top. It is also provided with means such as a drain hole which is indicated at 16 to let the water out if it is used as a wading pool and of course this hole is usually plugged to prevent sand or water from leaking out.

Adjacent its upper edge it is provided substantially all about the circumference thereof with an outstanding flange indicated at 18, see particularly FIG. 6. This flange is preferably concave on its top surface for a purpose to be described. Also it may be provided with feet such as at 20 for maintaining the bottom of the box-like member 10 off the floor.

The trough 18 is adapted to support the bottom frame member 24 of a foldable play yard member including a net 26. The net 26 is substantially continuous about the device and the frame member 24 is substantially of the same outline as the box-like member 10 which may of course be any shape desired such as square, oblong or circular. The frame member 24 is substantially rigid and may be made of two opposed U-shaped tubes joined together as for instance by a sleeve at 27. This frame member has secured over it a hem 29 by which it holds the net 26.

There is also an upper frame member 28 which is substantially the same as member 24 being conveniently made of a pair of U-shaped tubes the ends of which are connected by sleeves 30 or by some other means. The two frame members are adapted to be held in extended condition, seeforinstance FIGS. 2, 7, 9 and 10 by means of interpivoted scissors elements 32, 34. These are conveniently pivoted together intermediate their ends as at 36, and if desired a thumbscrew can be utilized at this point in order to hold the frames folded as shown in FIG. 4. In any event corresponding ends of the scissors members are pivoted as is represented by the numerals 40 to the respective frames or to plates 41 if desired. The other ends 'are slidably attached to the frames as by slotted notched plates 42, with rivets 44 riding in the slots and latched in the notches. The notches may be multiple for selected adjustment of the frames. The plates 42 are provided with various notches for the purpose of holding the members in different extended conditions to tauten the net when necessary, see the dotted lines in FIG. 2. The plates are conveniently mounted as by rivets or the like on the respective frame members 24 and 28.

By setting the lower frame member 24 in the concave flange or trough 18, it will be seen that the bottom boxlike enclosure member has the side walls thereof greatly extended, although of course in net-like form in order to provide a playpen. The bottom portion of the playpen at 12 is protected against drafts by the side walls 14 and the child is completely protected in his net enclosure. Sand can be placed in the box-like enclosure or water substituted for use as a sandbox or a wading pool while the playpen net side walling is still in position. On the other hand the net may be removed either in the extended form shown in FIG. 2 or in the folded form shown in FIG. 4 and the box-like enclosure used as a sandbox or wading pool without the playpen side walling as may be desired.

Any means can be utilized to temporarily attach the lower frame 24 with respect to the box-like member 10 such as for instance the well known spring-pressed thumb detent members such as is clearly shown at 46 in FIG. 6 and the side wall 14 of the box-like member projecting above the flange may be provided with an aperture for the detent 48 to engage in order to hold the parts in the position shown in FIG. 2. Any other convenient means may be used but these devices are particularly convenient and are easily operated. Also they may be conveniently placed at the corners of the box 10 so that the play yard side walling is very securely held in position.

If desired a canopy 50 may be tiltingly arranged on upright legs 52. These upright legs 52 may be provided with thumb nuts or the like 54 to screw into the frames or inserted plugs or the like 56, see FIG. 8, located in the upper frame member 30, and also the same construction may be used in the same manner to secure the legs 52 to the lower frame 24. The legs 52 however depend below the lower frame member 24 and are provided in these extended areas, shown at 56, with a pair of thumbscrews 58 which screw into extensions 60 integrally molded with respect to the box-like member. Some other similar means may be utilized to cause the legs 52 to stand upright to support the canopy in a tilting position shown in FIG. 9. If desired, slots 62 may be utilized intermediate the ends of the upright legs 52 for accommodating the position of frame 30. In any event, if the box-like member 10 is removed, see FIG. 10, the depending ends 56 of the upright legs 52 may be placed in the sand or the ground. The child is thus safely enclosed in the pen with the canopy keeping the main portion of the sun off but at the same time he can play in the sand without the necessity of using the box 10 at all.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the playpen walls, detached, are shown as having straps 64 secured thereto in any convenient way, whereupon it is securable to a bed or the like 65. The straps may have hooks or pivot pin types of removable fasteners 66 removably passing through holes in the tubular frames 24, and the straps can snap onto each other in a well known manner, or they can be secured to the bed rails by hooks, loops, etc. with well known take-up means etc. In this case, the child is safely lodged at a convenient height.

It will be seen that all of the objects of the invention have been carried out and that a very practical foldable article is provided for the use of infants, this article being usable in several different and separate ways, i.e., more or less as a usual playpen; as a playpen which does not have a bottom member but can be set on the ground or sand; as a sandbox or wading pool; or as a sandbox or wading pool having a playpen protective wall surrounding the same and removably secured with respect thereto; and also as a crib.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. An article of manufacture for the use of infants, comprising a substantially continuous foldable side wall forming an enclosure having a generally open top and bottom, a box-like member including a floor and upstanding walls with an open top, and means for detachably securing the foldable side wall adjacent its bottom to the walls of the box-like member at the tops thereof so that said side wall forms an extension thereof when the side wall is extended, means to hold the side wall ex- .tended, said enclosure being disposable in extended condition on a surface by itself without the box-like member for use as a play yard without a bottom, said folding side wall including a bottom frame and said box-like member including peripheral flange means extending outwardly from the upper portion thereof, said bottom frame and said peripheral flange means being provided with complementary convex and concave surfaces to facilitate ready mounting and dismounting of the side Wall with reference to said box-like member.

2. The article of manufacture recited in claim 1 wherein the side wall comprises a netting and includes a top frame and a bottom frame, the netting being secured to and between the frame, the means for holding the side wall extended holding the top frame in spaced relation with respect to the bottom frame, the means for holding the frames in the spaced relation being foldable so that the top frame may be positioned in juxtaposition with respect to the bottom frame.

3. The article of manufacture recited in claim 1 wherein the side wall comprises netting and includes a top frame and a bottom frame, the netting being secured to and between the frame, with means for holding the top frame extended in spaced relation with respect to the bottom frame, the detachable means for securing the wall of the box-like member to the side wall being positioned to connect the bottom frame member of the side wall adjacent to the top of the wall of the box-like member.

4. A combination article of manufacture for infants use comprising a box-like enclosure having a bottom, upright walls, and an open top, a pair of substantially similar open frames, means for holding the frames extended, said means being foldable to allow the frames to come together, a net-like material connected at its edges to said frames and forming a play yard side wall when the frames are extended in spaced relation, and interengaging means on one of said frames and the walls of the box-like enclosure for detachably securing said one frame to the walls of said box-like enclosure, the play yard side walls then forming extensions of the upright walls of the enclosure, a can py, and means mounting the canopy selectively on one of said frames or on the walls of the box-like enclosure, said canopy mounting means comprising upright members having corresponding free ends, the canopy being secured to the upright members at the opposite ends, means for mounting the upright members on said one frame at a point inwardly from the free ends of the upright members so that when the upright members are secured to said one frame with the one frame detached from the walls they project beyond the frame for engagement with the ground.

5. The article recited in claim 1 including a canopy, and means mounting the canopy selectively on one of said frames or on the walls of the box-like enclosure.

6. The article recited in claim 1 including a canopy, and means mounting the canopy selectively on one of said frames or on the walls of the box-like enclosure, said canopy mounting means comprising upright members having corresponding free ends, the canopy being secured to the upright members at the opposite ends.

7. The article recited in claim 4 including a canopy,

and means mounting the canopy selectively on one of said frames or on the walls of the box-like enclosure, said canopy mounting means comprising upright members having corresponding free ends, the canopy being secured to the upright members at the opposite ends, the means for mounting the upright legs to the Walls of the box-like enclosure being located between the free ends of the legs and the means for connecting the legs to the said one frame.

8. The article recited in claim 4 wherein the means for detachably connecting said one frame to the walls of said box-like enclosure being positioned adjacent the top edge of the Walls of the box-like enclosure.

9. The article recited in claim 4 wherein the means for detachably connecting said one frame to the walls of said box-like enclosure being positioned adjacent the top edge of the walls ofthe box-like enclosure and comprising a substantially continuous trough on said Walls into which said one frame is at least partially receivable.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,742,313 1/1930 Hooper 4177 1,748,932 2/1930 Medart et a1.

1,779,742 10/1930 Lines 598 X 2,299,136 10/1942 Feldman 593 X 2,755,489 7/1956 Meyers 4-177 X 2,992,440 7/ 1961 Revolt 593 3,092,847 6/1963 De Puy 598 X 3,187,350 6/1965 Steven 4177 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. BRADFORD E. KILE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE FOR THE USE OF INFANTS, COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS FOLDABLE SIDE WALL FORMING AN ENCLOSURE HAVING A GENERTALLY OPEN TOP AND BOTTOM, A BOX-LIKE MEMBER INCLUDING A FLOOR AND UPSTANDING WALLS WITH AN OPEN TOP, AND MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING THE FOLDABLE SIDE WALL ADJACENT ITS BOTTOM TO THE WALLS OF THE BOX-LIKE MEMBER AT THE TOPS THEREOF SO THAT SAID SIDE WALL FORMS AN EXTENSION THEREOF WHEN THE SIDE WALL IS EXTENDED, MEAN TO HOLD THE SIDE WALL EXTENDED, SAID ENCLOSURE BEING DISPOSABLE IN EXTENDED CONDITION ON A SURFACE BY ITSELF WITHOUT THE BOX-LIKE MEMBER FOR USE AS A PLAY YARD WIHTOUT A BOTTOM, SAID FOLDING SIDE WALL INCLUDING A BOTTOM FRAME AND SAID BOX-LIKE MEMBER INCLUDING PERIPHERAL FLANGE MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF, SAID BOTTOM FRAME AND SAID PERIPHERAL FLANGE MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH COMPLEMENTARY CONVEX AND CONCAVE SURFACES TO FACILITATE READY MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING OF THE SIDE WALL WITH REFERENCE TO SAID BOX-LIKE MEMBER. 